CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive

30 November 2012

Events News

Delcam Programs Used for Turbo Milling Demonstrations

Delcam’s PowerMILL software for five-axis machining is being used to program a novel machining method for the creation of "fir-tree” profiles in components for turbo machinery. The new process, which provides an alternative to broaching, will be demonstrated during a "Turbo Milling Process Chain” event to be held by INIRAM Precision, a New England-based importer and distributor of five-axis milling machines, in Peabody, Massachusetts, on 5th and 6th December.

The milling approach, which is based on the trochoidal machining strategies in PowerMILL, has been patented by Iruba, a German provider of engineered solutions. It allows complex "fir-tree” profiles to be produced on five-axis milling machines, rather than having to use specialist broaching equipment. For the Massachusetts event, the demonstrations will be carried out on a Hermle C60 five-axis machining centre, which will be used to machine a complex fan disk.

The use of trochoidal strategies gives a number of benefits, in particular giving high material removal rates with lower, and more consistent, cutting forces. The more consistent cutting forces also ensure higher accuracy in the position and in the shape of the slots, with minimal thermal effects on the surface of the profiles. The process also reduces the number of specialist cutting tools that are required, and cuts the machining time by between 30 and 40 per cent.

Commenting on the event, Brett Hopkins, Manager of Delcam Professional Services North America, said, "We are pleased to be working with other leaders in manufacturing technology like Hermle and Iruba to develop this innovative technology. The collective collaboration began several months ago and was received with great enthusiasm when we presented the process at IMTS earlier this year.”

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